WELLINGTON - The Police Complaints Authority is waiting for reports into the case of Dannevirke man Craig Withey before deciding whether to investigate police actions.
The authority, Judge Neville Jaine, said he had been waiting for a malicious-prosecution case against police by Mr Withey to end before investigating.
On Sunday, the Police Commissioner announced that a settlement had been reached with Mr Withey, who claimed $850,000 in damages from police after being arrested on fabricated evidence.
"I've asked for reports and am considering what I will do about it," Judge Jaine said.
Further action would depend on reports into the case.
Any investigation was likely to focus on the actions of an undercover policeman, who had used the alias Malcolm McKenzie, and his supervisor, Napier detective Keith Price.
"But if there are issues of misconduct - using that word in its general term - that need to be looked at, so be it, but I can't add any more," he said.
Judge Jaine had asked the commissioner's office for details of the settlement.
The High Court at Palmerston North found in 1998 that two police officers altered evidence against Mr Withey and then lied about it.
However, the jury did not award Mr Withey damages.
Mr Withey went to the Court of Appeal, claiming damages for malicious prosecution.
The Court of Appeal ruled the jury's verdict was inconsistent, and that a new High Court trial should be held.
But a statement the police released on Sunday said a settlement had been reached.
Its details were confidential.
Mr Withey was first charged with manufacturing cannabis oil in March 1994, after an undercover drugs operation netted 136 arrests and more than 400 convictions.
The charge was based on Mr McKenzie's identification of Mr Withey as the man he had met during a drug deal at a Dannevirke house in 1993.
The charge was dropped just before Mr Withey was due for trial in mid-1995.
Mr Withey said Mr McKenzie met another man, and the detective changed the description of that man's tattoos to match Mr Withey's own.
- NZPA
Judge awaits Withey report
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